UAlbany Partners to Bring Global Game Jam to Campus

Laptops connecting to gaming controllers sit on a table inside the ETEC shared training room.

Game design & development students share their projects at CEHC Showcase Fall 2024. (Photo by Patrick Dodson)

ALBANY, N.Y. (Jan. 21, 2025) — Students at the University at Albany are invited to be part of the world’s largest game creation event this weekend.

UAlbany’s Department of Information Sciences and Technology at the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (CEHC) is partnering with the Albany Chapter of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA Albany) to host a local site for Global Game Jam 2025.

Global Game Jam takes place at locations around the world, bringing together thousands of people of all skill levels and backgrounds to form teams and create original games.

Last year’s event attracted more than 35,000 game enthusiasts from 102 countries, who created 9,964 games in 48 hours. All jammers worldwide are challenged to make games based on the same theme, which is announced at the start of the event.

Albany’s game jam will take place from Jan. 24 to 26 at the ETEC research and development complex. Students are encouraged to register in advance through IGDA Albany.

“We are proud to partner with the Albany Chapter of the International Game Developers Association by hosting the Global Game Jam at ETEC this year,” said Michael Leczinsky, a professor of practice in the Department of Information Sciences and Technology and event coordinator. “Students will have the opportunity to develop their skills, collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and network with industry professionals in a fun and supportive environment. We invite anyone interested to attend and make a game.”

“IGDA Albany is excited to partner with UAlbany on this great event,” added Jax Joni Ceceri, a board member at IGDA Albany. “We see great games come out of the event every year from developers at all different skill levels. The Global Game Jam is a great opportunity for everyone to learn from one another and bring new skills and perspectives to the art of game creation.”

This weekend’s event adds to UAlbany’s growing investment in training future game industry leaders.

CEHC announced last month that it will launch a new major and graduate program (the first in the SUNY system) in game design and development starting in Fall 2025. The College also offers an 18-credit game design and development minor and undergraduate concentration.

In November, Wolfjaw Studios, a Troy-based game development studio, hosted the second annual Wolfjam Hackathon at ETEC. More than 660 gamers participated, and Wolfjaw established a $35,000 endowed scholarship for UAlbany students studying game design and development.

In addition to academic programs, the University recently opened a new 4,000-square-foot arena to house UAlbany Esports, which is among the country’s largest collegiate competitive video gaming programs. The facility is open to competitive gamers as well as students interested in a more casual gaming experience with their friends.